This book presents detailed research regarding the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, including studies of inscriptions on bones or tortoise shells, bronzeware, bamboo scripts, and silk manuscripts, in order to demonstrate the main features of various historical periods during the establishment and development of ancient Chinese civilization based on an a view of ancient Chinese civilization studies as a whole.

The book consists of three sections with a total of 38 essays. The first section provides a macro-level overview of the formation and development history of ancient Chinese...